Former Chief Minister and opposition National Conference president Dr Farooq Abdullah is often seen as a goldmine of news in Jammu and Kashmir. Be it his self-contradicting statements on Kashmir or shaking a leg with ladies at parties, he steals the show even when he is sleeping alone.
In the latest, a low-resolution picture of Dr Abdullah has surfaced on social media wherein he is seen catnapping at a picturesque garden. The blossom in the background suggests that the picture has been taken somewhere this time around in spring. Wearing tailor-stitched trousers and full sleeves shirt, the senior politician is seen lying on a mat with his karakul cap resting on the adjacent chair.
While the picture is going viral, presumptions are wild as to why “flamboyant Abdullah” was caught in such a pose, that too, all alone? Otherwise, his viral pictures and videos generally pertain to some eye-catching moments at get-togethers where he generally mixes up with others with all vigour and humour.
Looking at his new picture, while some say that he continues to enjoy every bit of life to fullest, others believe that the NC leader has deliberately leaked it on social media to highlight his “down to earth” attitude ahead of the parliament by-polls for Srinagar constituency, where Abdullah is among the heavyweight contenders.
While confirming that the picture was real, a senior NC leader, who didn’t wish to be named, said that the picture was captured during a family get-together at Badamwari or Almond Garden in Srinagar some two years ago.
“But this is not the new one,” he added. When questioned why the picture had gone viral after a long a gap, the NC leader said, “This is election time and anything is possible from any quarter. Maybe, it was part of some game plan.”
Interestingly, unlike his Twitterati son and successor Omar—who often avoids media glare—senior Abdullah often steals the show.
Earlier this year, when Sunny Leonne visited Gulmarg for a shooting session, Omar, who was holidaying there, instantly left for home lest his presence at the ski resort would feed gossip. But Dr Abdullah, who in the yesteryears publicly dated Bollywood divas including Rekha and Shabana Azmi, continues to be the same carefree man, this time enjoying catnap at a public place.
